After fires, killings, black churches debate the best ways to protect themselves

(RNS) The leader of the National Baptist Convention, USA, says his member churches should “do everything that is humanly possible” to protect themselves — even if it means hiring armed guards.

But the head of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination would rather churches call 911 if necessary.

After nine people were fatally shot at an African-American church in Charleston, S.C., and more than half a dozen black churches have burned, officials of mostly black denominations are taking different — and sometimes contradictory — approaches as they try to prepare for a safer future.

More than 1,000 people took part in a Department of Homeland Security webinar Wednesday (July 1) that emphasized measures to prepare for a range of crises.

The Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner, co-chair of the National African American Clergy Network, tuned into the webinar and heard advice on how congregations should connect with first responders.

“Some churches are doing that,” she said. “Others had not been and I think the Charleston church massacre helped people to understand that houses of worship that welcome strangers also have to be ready for strangers that mean harm.”

Leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church said the denomination is preparing congregations to “set up safety watches and take preventative measures to protect human life and physical assets.”

The Rev. Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, said he will be advising members of his predominantly black denomination to take new measures from installing interior and exterior video cameras to having office security systems buzz in visitors.

“We are in consultation even now with the experts to assist us in making sure we get to all of our constituent churches instruction, advice and suggestions as to how they can actually beef up security around the worship centers,” he said.

In his opinion, that can include armed guards.

But Bishop George Battle, the senior bishop of the AME Zion Church, doesn’t think guns should be an option.

“We’re not going to have any guns on our property to deal with that,” he said.

Referring to a verse from the Book of Isaiah that says “no weapon formed against you shall prosper,” he added: “We can’t preach one thing and do another.”

Authorities have not linked the Emanuel AME attack to the church fires or confirmed that the fires are racially motivated. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating five fires across the South at predominantly black churches in June.

ATF’s Bomb Arson Tracking System shows there were 127 incidents at houses of worship in 2014, compared to 146 in 2013 and the same number in 2012. Last year, 42 were deliberately set, 26 were ruled accidental and 54 were labeled “undetermined.”

Still the recent spate of black church fires, which remind many of attacks in the 1960s and 1990s, have prompted widespread concern.

Anthea Butler, a professor of religious and Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania, said the government webinar should only be the beginning of efforts to address the attacks on black houses of worship.

“While this is important, it focuses on prevention — not cure or eradication of racism or religion-based hate crimes,” said Butler, writing in Religion Dispatches. “What needs to happen is a concerted effort by all churches, black and white alike, to confront the issue of racism in America with fervor.”

There has been some response across racial lines to the recent incidents.

Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis started a fundraising campaign to rebuild recently burned churches that were victims of arson with a goal of $25,000. It has raised more than $80,000 after increasing its goal to $100,000.

“The response to this has been incredible, but truly not surprising,” said the Very Rev. Mike Kinman, dean of the predominantly white congregation. “There is so much good in people’s hearts.”

Carl Chinn, a ministry security expert, said prevention is a worthy goal but it cannot eliminate evildoers.

“There have been many wolves, and there will be more,” he said. “Some will hate blacks, some will hate Christians, whites, Israelis or Sikhs — but they will come.”